228776e

SINGAPORE
The sample
The sample contains one history textbook, published in 2013, called All about History. The
Making of the Contemporary World Order 1870s-1991, which deals with contemporary
European history for fourteen- to fifteen-year-old pupils. The Holocaust is addressed
specifically over three pages and more generally over approximately ten pages in sections
called ‘Persecution of Jewish People and Other Minority Groups’, ‘The Night of Broken
Glass, 1938’, and ‘The Holocaust during World War II’. However, all these sections are
contained in the general chapter called ‘Hitler’s Germany’, which provides the overall
context for the treatment of the Holocaust.
Scale
The geographical reach of the Holocaust is largely defined in association with the location
of concentration and extermination camps in Germany, Austria and Poland, by citing the
fact that ‘many Europeans were antisemitic (p. 99). A further spatial context is given with
reference to the German military invasion of the Soviet Union. Special significance is ascribed
to almost every year between 1933 and 1942 in relation to such events as the building of the
concentration camp at Dachau, the boycotting of shops considered to be ‘Jewish’, and the
implementation of the Nuremberg Laws. However, the textbook establishes no link with the
periods prior to 1933 or after 1945.
Protagonists
Images in the textbook present a balance between perpetrators and victims, who are
often depicted together. A table provides a thorough overview of the categories of victims
established by the National Socialists, in combination with thorough details on the numbers
of victims from each group. A chronology of acts of discrimination against Jews is listed
separately from discussion of other minorities and political opponents. The life of Jews
beyond the Holocaust is indicated with reference to religious allegiance and emigration
during the 1930s. However, stereotypes are reproduced in terms of ‘wealthy Jews’ who are
‘good businessmen’ (p. 74). The authors refer to perpetrators as ‘Nazis’, ‘SS’, ‘SA’, or else
as the individuals Hitler, Göring, Himmler and Röhm. Subtitles such as ‘To what extent was
Hitler’s rise to power due more to favourable circumstances than his leadership abilities’
and ‘Hitler’s leadership abilities’ and repeated references to Hitler’s ‘hatred’ (p. 74),
‘intention’ (p. 101) or his ‘campaign to exterminate the Jews’ (p. 86) indicate considerable
focus on this figure and an explanation of the event in terms of his personal wishes. The Evian
conference of 1938 depicts the Allies’ failed attempts to accommodate large numbers of
Jewish refugees. French, Polish, Soviet and Yugoslav resistance movements are mentioned
alongside informers. Gender relations are raised in terms of a split between women who
perceived the National Socialist regime to be oppressive and those who enjoyed its benefits.
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